A/N- The next few installments will be shorter. This is Triplett's chapter.

Trip sighed as he sat down in his regular chair, the living room quiet in the early hours of the morning. The only other person awake at that time was May, and she was always doing Tai Chi in the gym. Trip, meanwhile, had his own morning ritual.

Prying open the book in his lap, Trip settled back into his chair. The words were familiar, and his mind soon wandered.

The image of Fitz came up frequently, the usually energetic engineer still in his hospital bed. He remembered his failed attempts to bond with Fitz when they'd first met. Trip had thought Fitz would only be friends if he could be impressed by someone's intelligence- turned out he just needed someone to laugh with. It'd taken time, but Trip could tell they would be good friends. Could have been good friends.

"What are you reading?"

Trip turned to see Simmons standing in the doorway of the lounge. She had just woken up, he could tell. Her hair was still unbrushed and there was no make-up on her face. She walked through the door and sat down on the couch beside his chair, curling her legs up under her.

He held up the book for her to inspect the cover and smirked when her eyes went a little wider in surprise.

"The Bible?" He nodded. "Do you read it often?" Her surprised expression was being schooled into a mask of interest.

"Every morning. I find a quiet place, I read, and I pray."

Simmons nodded. "So you believe in God, then?"

"I do. I'm guessing you don't?"

"Not really." She shook her head. "Science and religion don't match up in my book."

Trip shrugged. "To me, the more I learn about science, the more I believe. It just makes sense that someone came up with all of this."

"Even with aliens?"

He laughed. "Even with aliens."

"So, what are you reading?" Trip could see she was making an effort and it made him smile.

"Isaiah 40:29-31."

"And what does it say?"

Trip looked at her before reading it aloud. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Simmons nodded and settled back into the couch. "You were thinking of Fitz."

"Of course. I've been reading about strength and hope since we got here. I pray for him every morning."

"That's really sweet." She wasn't meeting his eyes anymore. Though he didn't say it, a large part of his prayers were about Simmons as well. She was tough, but he knew she must be hurting. He had hoped God would bring her comfort, and, from her expression after the shopping trip, it seemed that He had.

"Would you like to pray with me?" Her eyes darted to him before she looked quickly away and rubbed her hands together.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. I don't know how, and I don't believe..."

"That's okay." He gave her a warm smile when she looked at him. "You don't have to know anything, don't even have to believe. All you gotta do is hold my hands"- he held them out for her to grab-"and let me do the talking. If you don't want to, no big deal. I'll still pray for you and Fitz anyway."

Her eyes hadn't left his hands since he'd placed them before her. Slowly, she leaned forward and placed her hands in his. "Can't hurt to try, right?"

"Absolutely." Trip closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Dear God, we come to you today with hearts and mind weighed down by sorrow. We pray for our friend Fitz, that he will wake up soon, as whole and healthy as he can be. Give us the strength to carry on through these dark times and make the world a better place. I also want to pray for Simmons. She has had great strength in this tragedy, and I pray she can continue to find it. And when she feels she has no more, I pray she knows she can turn to her friends for support. Thank you God for the lives of all of us in this bunker and for our families beyond."

"Especially for Fitz's mum." The add in made Trip smile.

"Especially for Fitz's mum," he agreed. "Let the new S.H.I.E.L.D bring peace to this earth and to worlds beyond. In Jesus' name, Amen."

He opened his eyes and gave Simmons' hands a squeeze before letting them go.

"Thank you, Trip." Simmons tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "It was lovely."

"Anytime. Thank you for joining me. And see? No fire raining from the sky. No smiting. No plagues taking over the bunker."

She laughed, and Trip thought she looked more at peace. At least, he hoped so. He soon went back to reading, and Simmons grabbed a random book from the end table and joined him. When Skye wandered in yawning, Simmons left with her to finish getting ready, but not before nodding to Trip.

He watched the two girls leave before shutting his Bible. If Skye was up, then it was most definitely time for him to start getting ready as well. He sent up one more quick prayer for the whole team before leaving the lounge.

He hoped he had helped.

Thoughts?

-princessmelia